Motorcycle mounting assembly for radio handset microphones

ABSTRACT

A mounting assembly for releasably securing a radio handset microphone to a motorcycle handlebar is provided. The mounting assembly includes a bracket element to extend partially around a motorcycle handlebar and a rigid plate extending from the bracket element. The bracket element is adapted to be joined to the motorcycle handlebar such that the bracket element partially surrounds the motorcycle handlebar. The rigid plate includes a mounting surface for mounting a radio handset microphone thereto. The mounting surface generally extends over the handlebar and is easily accessible to the motorcycle occupant. The mounting assembly may be combined with a carrier and a handset adapter to provide a mounting system with a secure landing zone that firmly holds the radio handset microphone in place.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mounting assembly for radiomicrophones, and in particular, a motorcycle mounting assembly for radiohandset microphones.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Radio handset microphones have traditionally been attached to a mountingdevice using a clip assembly. The clip assembly can include a tongue andgroove attachment. The tongue and groove attachment requires alignmentof a tongue with a groove in the mounting device. However, the tongueand groove attachment can require users to concentrate on removing orreplacing the handset rather than concentrating on driving. This isparticularly problematic in motorcycles, which can demand a higher levelof concentration than four wheeled vehicles. Accordingly, there remainsa continued need for an improved system for safely and efficientlymounting a radio handset microphone to a motorcycle in a manner that iseasily retrievable. In particular, there remains a continued need for animproved system for releasably mounting existing radio handsetmicrophones without requiring complex or costly modifications to themotorcycle or to the radio handset microphone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mounting assembly for releasably securing a radio handset microphoneto a motorcycle handlebar is provided. According to one embodiment, themounting assembly includes a bracket element to extend partially aroundthe handlebar and a plate element extending from the bracket element.The bracket element can be adapted for attachment across the handlebar,and the plate element can include a mounting surface for supporting aradio handset microphone. The mounting surface extends over thehandlebar and faces the occupant for convenient access to the radiohandset microphone.

According to another embodiment, the bracket element includes anengagement surface adapted to conform to the outer periphery of themotorcycle handlebar. The bracket element also includes first and secondthrough holes aligned with first and second apertures in a half-body,optionally a brake fluid container half-body or a switch case half-body.The plate element extends from the bracket element over the motorcyclehandlebar generally inwardly and toward the longitudinal centerline ofthe motorcycle. The plate element includes a first fastener aperture, asecond fastener aperture, and a grounding through hole. The firstfastener aperture and the second fastener aperture are spaced apart fromeach other and positioned outwardly of the grounding through hole. Thebracket element and the plate element can be formed of a magneticmaterial to prevent undesired interference to nearby electricalswitches.

In various embodiments, the mounting assembly may be combined with amagnetic carrier and a handset adapter to provide a mounting system witha secure landing zone that firmly holds the radio handset microphonewith a uniform force. The mounting system can provide an effectiveconversion that can be sold as an after-market kit for radio handsetmicrophones having a traditional tongue and groove ‘hang-up clip’ mount.The mounting assembly can be easily fitted to a handlebar, optionally amotorcycle handle bar.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will be morefully understood and appreciated by reference to the drawings and thedescription of the current embodiments.

Before embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the details of operationor the details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention may be implemented in various other embodiments and may bepracticed or carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosedherein. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereofis meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalentsthereof, as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further,enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments.Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not beconstrued as limiting the invention to any specific order or number ofcomponents. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excludingfrom the scope of the invention any additional steps or components thatmight be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mounting assembly in accordance withone embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front side elevation view of the mounting assembly of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a left side elevation view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a mounting system including the mountingassembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mounting system of FIG. 5 includinga magnetic carrier for attachment to a magnetic handset adaptor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments as disclosed herein include a mounting assembly forreleasably securing a radio handset microphone to a handlebar, forexample a motorcycle handlebar. The mounting assembly can be combinedwith a magnetic carrier and a handset adaptor to provide a mountingsystem that firmly holds a radio handset microphone with a uniformforce. The mounting assembly is well suited as an after-market kit for aradio handset microphone and can be installed with conventional handtools, for example a hex key or a screwdriver.

A mounting assembly in accordance with one embodiment is depicted inFIGS. 1-4 and generally designated 10. The mounting assembly 10 includesa first portion 12 adapted to be joined to a handlebar and a secondportion 14 extending from the first portion 12 for supporting one ormore objects thereon. The first portion 12, referred to as a bracketelement herein, extends partially around a handlebar for attachment to ahalf-body, sometimes referred to as a half clamshell. The half-body canbe a preexisting handlebar component or can be added to a handlebar forattachment to the bracket element 12. The half-body can be joined toanother component, for example a brake fluid container or a switch case,or can be a stand-alone component. The second portion 14, referred to asa plate element herein, includes a mounting surface for a carrier, forexample a magnetic carrier for a handset adaptor. Each such element 12,14 is discussed in greater detail below.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-4, the bracket element 12 includes anengagement surface 16 and first and second through holes 18, 20. Theengagement surface 16 is curved in the illustrated embodiment to conformto the outer surface of a handlebar, generally following a semi-circlewhen viewed from the side as shown in FIG. 3. The engagement surface 16can include other configurations in other embodiments as desired, forexample where the handlebar does not include a tubular configuration. Asalso shown in FIG. 3, the bracket element 12 terminates in a first endportion 22 and a second end portion 24. The first through hole 18extends through the first end portion 22 and the second through hole 20extends through the second end portion 24. As discussed below inconnection with FIGS. 5-6, the first and second through holes 18, 20 arepositioned to receive first and second securing elements 26, 28 forattachment to a half-body. The securing elements 26, 28 can be anysuitable element, including a hex key operated set screw threaded intothe first and second through holes 18, 20. This type of fastener canallow quick and easy engagement and disengagement from the half-body.The bracket element 12 also includes a flat side surface 30 that isperpendicular to the plate element 14 for placement adjacent a switchcase, for example.

As noted above, the plate element 14 extends from the bracket element 12for supporting one or more objects thereon. In the illustratedembodiment, the plate element 14 is adapted to be cantilevered over ahandlebar, for example a motorcycle handlebar, such that the backsurface 33 abuts the handlebar. The plate element 14 includes a mountingsurface 32 generally facing the motorcycle occupant. The mountingsurface 32 includes a first fastener aperture 34, a second fasteneraperture 36, and a grounding through hole 38. The first fasteneraperture 34 and the second fastener aperture 36 are spaced apart fromeach other and positioned outwardly of the grounding through hole 38.Third and fourth securing elements 42, 44 secure the carrier 100 to themounting assembly 10. The third and fourth securing elements 42, 44 canbe any suitable element, including a screw threaded into the first andsecond apertures 34, 36. The plate element 14, though illustrated asbeing flat and rigid, can include essentially any configuration formounting a carrier 100 thereto, including for example configurationsthat are curved or flexible.

The plate element 14 is integrally joined to the bracket element 12 inthe illustrated embodiment, but can be formed separately from thebracket element 12 in other embodiments as desired. The plate element 14and the bracket element 12 can be formed from any suitable material thatis attracted by a magnet, i.e., magnetically permeable materials,including materials such as steel, iron, nickel and cobalt. In otherembodiments, the plate element 14 and the bracket element 12 are formedfrom a material that is not attracted by a magnet, i.e.,non-magnetically permeable materials, including aluminum. It should benoted that materials that are insufficiently magnetic or insufficientlymagnetically permeable to function in the desired manner described inthis application are considered to be non-magnetic and non-magneticallypermeable. Further by example, the plate element 14 and the bracketelement 12 can be formed from carbon steel with a black oxide finish toprevent corrosion.

As noted above, the mounting assembly 10 includes a mounting surface 32for attachment to a carrier 100, which together form a mounting system110 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The carrier 100 is as described in USPatent Application Publication 2012/0275633 to Schreiber et al entitled“Hang Up Magnet For Radio Telephone,” the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference in its entirety. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 ofthe present application, for example, the carrier 100 provides a housingfor a magnet 102. The magnet 102 may be attached to the carrier 100using any suitable method, including a friction fit, an adhesive, or oneor more fasteners. The magnet 102 may be any suitable size and shape,including disk shaped. The magnet may be made of any suitable magnetmaterial, including neodymium and other alloys of rare earth elements.The magnet 102 is adapted to be joined to a magnetic handset adapter(not shown) substantially as described in the patent applicationpublication referenced above and incorporated herein. For example, themagnet 102 can be axially polarized to provide a broader and moreconsistent landing zone for a magnetic handset adaptor. In this manner,the user may attach the handset adaptor (optionally including a magnetor a magnetic material) to the carrier 100 by bringing a handset adaptorin the general vicinity of the magnet 102.

The carrier 100 may be made from any suitable non-magnetic material,including aluminum with a flat black anodized non-conductive coating toprevent corrosion. The carrier 102 includes first and second carrierthrough holes 104, 106 for receipt of the third and fourth securingelements 42, 44 therethrough. The first and second through holes 104,106 of the carrier 100 are in alignment with the first and secondapertures 34, 36 of the plate element 14 when the carrier 100 is instacked alignment with the plate element 14. In this regard, the outlineof the plate element 14 matches that of the carrier 100, such that twoare coextensive.

As noted above, the plate element 14 includes a grounding through hole38 to provide a grounding path. An integral grounding path through theplate element 14 to the motorcycle handlebar allows the radio handsetmicrophone to ground when the radio handset microphone is mounted to themounting assembly 10. For example, an electrically conductive element 39may be positioned within the grounding through hole 38 of the plateelement 14 to connect the magnet 102 to ground (e.g., the motorcyclehandlebar). The electrically conductive element 39 may be any suitableelement, including an electrically conductive spring. In otherembodiments however the plate element 14 does not include a groundingthrough hole 38. For example, the plate element 14 can be formed of aconductive material that is not magnetic. One such material includesuncoated aluminum. In this configuration, the plate element 14 canconduct to ground (e.g., the motorcycle handlebar) while isolating themagnetic field from the environment surrounding the mounting assembly10.

To assemble the mounting system 110, the carrier 100 is placed over themounting assembly 10 such that the through holes 104, 106 of the carrier100 are in alignment with the corresponding apertures 34, 36 of themounting assembly 10, being secured together using the third and fourthsecuring elements 42, 44. The mooting assembly 10, together with thecarrier 100, is then placed over a motorcycle handlebar 120 such thatthe first and second through holes 18, 20 are aligned with existingapertures 122, 124 in a half-body 126. The half-body 126 can include anyconstruction adapted to join the bracket element 14 to the handlebar120. The half-body 126 is joined to a brake fluid container 128 adjacentto a switch case 130 as shown in FIG. 5, but can be separate from thesecomponents 126, 128 in other embodiments were desired. The firstsecuring element 26 is inserted through the first through hole 18 andinto the first half-body aperture 122, being tightened by a hand tool,optionally a hex key. The second securing element 28 is inserted throughthe second through hole 20 and into the second half-body aperture 124,also being tightened by a hand tool, optionally a hex key. Disassemblycan be performed in the reverse order using the same hand tools used inthe assembly of the mounting system 110.

The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention.Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from thespirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles ofpatent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure ispresented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as anexhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limitthe scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated ordescribed in connection with these embodiments. For example, anyindividual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced byalternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality orotherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example,presently known alternative elements, such as those that might becurrently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements thatmay be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in theart might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Directionalterms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,”“lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are used toassist in describing the invention based on the orientation of theembodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional termsshould not be interpreted to limit the invention to packages of anyspecific orientation(s). Further, the disclosed embodiments include aplurality of features that are described in concert and that mightcooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention isnot limited to only those embodiments that include all of these featuresor that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extentotherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference toclaim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,”“an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element tothe singular. Any reference to claim elements as “at least one of X, Yand Z” is meant to include any one of X, Y or Z individually, and anycombination of X, Y and Z, for example, X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z; and Y, Z.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for mounting a handset microphoneto a motorcycle handlebar, the method comprising: joining a bracketelement to a half-clamshell of the motorcycle, the bracket elementreplacing a pre-existing component of the motorcycle and being adaptedfor attachment to the half-clamshell, wherein a mounting surface extendsfrom the bracket element, such that such that the mounting surface ispositioned within reach of a motorcycle occupant; joining a handsetadapter to the handset microphone, the handset microphone having a postand a tongue extending from the post, the handset adapter including atleast one of a magnet and a magnetically attractable material that isdisposed adjacent to an exterior-facing surface of the tongue whenattached to the handset microphone; and bringing the handset microphoneinto proximity with the mounting surface to mount the handset microphoneby magnetic attraction, wherein the mounting surface faces themotorcycle occupant and is between the motorcycle handlebar and themotorcycle occupant.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mountingsurface includes a magnet joined thereto and wherein the handset adaptorincludes a magnetically attractable material.
 3. The method of claim 1wherein the mounting surface includes a magnetically attractablematerial and wherein the handset adaptor includes a magnet.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the mounting surface forms part of a plateelement, the plate element being joined to a side portion of the bracketelement.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the plate element iscantilevered from the bracket element to extend over and parallel to themotorcycle handlebar.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the bracketelement includes a first fastener aperture and a second fasteneraperture in alignment with a first threaded opening and a secondthreaded opening of the motorcycle half-clamshell, respectively.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the bracket element includes a curvedengagement surface adapted to conform to the outer periphery of amotorcycle handlebar.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the bracketelement and the mounting surface are formed of a magnetically permeablematerial.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the bracket element and themounting surface are formed of a non-magnetically permeable material.